Watering system for fowl and small animals

ABSTRACT

A valved discharge member for use with the water supply system for use with cages of fowl and small animals, wherein a valve element in the member engages two spaced valve seats and is unseated by movement laterally and upwardly of a pin extending through a discharge opening and projecting below the housing.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 520,099 filedon 4/10/81 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 113,607, filed 1/21/80,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,036.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a watering system for fowl and small animalsand particularly to the watering system for use in connection with andaccessible at the various cages or compartments in which fowl and smallanimals are reared, and/or cages in which hens and other fowl areretained so that eggs produced by them may be retained and collected.

Prior constructions of valve units of watering systems of this generaltype intended for providing fresh water have entailed or utilizedconstructions in which a housing of vertical tubular character, usuallyprovided with a valve, is clamped or secured to a horizontal supplyconduit at an opening through which water from the conduit may bedischarged. The constructions of the valves of prior devices haveutilized plastic bodies and metal parts, such as valve members, whichparts have commonly been formed by usual machining methods but have beensubject to the formation of ribs or projections thereon which, inrepeated use for a period of time have caused wear of the plastic body,as by a sawing action. Progressive wear progressively increases the rateof flow of liquid which is discharged incident to any given operation ofthe valve member, and the flow rate can be become excessive and causedischarge of water in an amount in excess of the amount which the fowlor animal, and particularly a small chicken, can ingest. Also, thedischarge of an excess amount of water incident to a given openingactuation of the valve can cause wetting of the fowl or animal withinthe cage and wetting of the litter within the cage with the result thatthe health of the occupant is endangered. This and other characteristicsof prior devices have detracted from successful use and have requiredeither frequent replacement of the watering device or removal thereof.

The present device is designed and constructed to eliminate theaforementioned and other deficiencies of prior devices and has for itsprincipal object the successful elimination of the aforementioned andother limitations and disadvantages.

A further object is to provide a water discharge unit of this type whicheffectively meters the amount of liquid discharged and which maintainssubstantially constant the rate of discharge of water therethroughincident to each operation of the device to a given extent.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which provides multiple spaced valve seats engageable by avalve element to insure effective normal sealing of the valve element.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein aflexible valve seat forming member is engaged by a valve element havinga spherical surface and is subject to deflection to provide continuousannular sealing engagement with a valve element, including engagement atirregularities in the surface of the valve element.

A further object is to provide a water distributor having an actuatorprojecting therefrom at a water discharge opening and operable to unseata valve in response to lateral tilting in any direction and to upwardbodily movement.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a watering system havingmultiple water distribution parts of the character embodied in thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of one embodiment of a distributor insealed position.

FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of another embodiment of the inventionin its sealed position.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 2, shown in a water discharging position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention, the numeral 1 designates a water supply conduit connectedwith pressure regulating means 2 having connection with a water supplythrough a line 3. The conduit 1 is positioned to extend through a seriesof cages, not shown, in which fowl and small animals may be housed. Theconduit 1 may be supported at selected elevation and in substantiallyhorizontal position by any suitable means, such as suspension cables 4connected to clamps 5, each encircling the conduit 1 at a selectedposition. Each clamp has a depending tubular discharge 6 communicatingwith a discharge opening at the lower part of the conduit 1. Clamps 5may be provided with valves which may be of the normally closed type,but which are opened upon connection of a water distributor thereto.Thus, the clamp may include a valve element 7 normally seating on avalve seat 8, but displaced from the valve seat, as shown in FIG. 3, inthe assembled position of the parts. The clamp may be of the typeillustrated in my co-pending application Ser. No. 034,243, filed Apr.30, 1979 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,188 for Watering Cup For Poultry andAnimals.

If desired, an electrically conductive cable 9 may be suitably mountedin spaced relation above the conduit 1, as by supports 10(a) projectingabove the clamps 5. The cable may be energized by a suitable electricalcomponent 10 connected by a line 11 leading to an electric outlet. Thedownward tubular discharge 6 of the clamp may include a hook portion atits lower end to accommodate and position a water dishcarge unit, suchas the water discharge unit shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 which fits withinthe depending tubular discharge 6.

My novel water distributing unit or discharge adapted to be mounted ateach clamp 5 is preferably of the character illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3,and 4. Each unit includes an upper tubular member 20 having an upperannular flange portion 21 which has a snug sliding fit within the boreof the clamp discharge tube 6. Tube member 20 has an upper end wallextending thereacross within which are formed a plurality of apertures22 and from which projects upwardly at its center a valve unseating pin23 which is adapted to engage the valve 7 of the clamp outlet asillustrated in FIG. 3 when the discharge unit is operatively connectedto a clamp 5. The bore of the tubular member 20 is enlarged at its lowerend to provide a reduced thickness tube wall portion 24 which ispreferably characterized by shallow longitudinal internally projectingribs 25.

The discharge unit includes a lower tubular member 30 having a snugsliding fit upon the upper tubular member 20 below the upper flange 21and which fits in the tubular portion 6 of a clamp. Member 30 has a borewhich is of stepped configuration to provide an inner annular shoulder31 adapted to engage the lower end of the tube member 20, a secondinternal shoulder 32 spaced slightly below the shoulder 31, and a thirdor lower shoulder 33. The lower portion of the tubular member 30preferably has a frusto conical bore 34 which is of larger diameter atits lower open end than at its upper end at the shoulder 33.

The clamp 5 with its tubular discharge 6 and the tubular members 20 and30 are preferably formed of plastic material so as to accommodate theformation thereon of interlocking means to hold the parts 6, 20, and 30together in operative position when assembled. Thus, the tubulardischarge member 6 may have molded integrally therewith at its lower enda laterally projecting hook member 40 terminating in an upwardlyprojecting flange 41, which hook 40-41 is of limited circumferentialdimension. The lower tubular member 30 may have molded integrallytherewith at a selected position thereon a lateral projection 42 oflimited circumferential extent from which projects upwardly the shank 43of a hook having a downturned flange 44. The hook 43-44 is spaced fromthe outer surface of the tube 30 a distance to accommodate passage ofthe clamp tube 6 around the assembled tubes 20, 30 when the hook 40-41is disaligned from the hook 43-44, to effect the telescoping connectionof the parts to the position shown in FIG. 3. When the telescopingconnection of the parts is completed, the lower tubular member 30 can berotated on tube part 6 to cause the hook 43-44 thereof to engage andinterlock with the hook 40-41 of the tube 6.

The lower bore 34 of the tube 30 is preferably lined by a metal taperedtubular part 50 having its small diameter end uppermost. From the upperend of liner 50 projects outwardly substantially flat annular flange 51which bears upon and is supported at the shoulder 33 of tube 30.

A cup shaped member 52, preferably formed of resilient material, such asrubber, is mounted within the bore of the member 30 with its bottomseating against the metal flange 51. The bottom of member 52 has acentral aperture of substantially the same size as the diameter of thebore at the reduced upper end of the metal liner tube 50 and registerswith liner tube 50. The resilient cup shaped member 52 has an enlargedannular upper flange 53 which seats upon the intermediate annularshoulder 32 of the tubular member 30. The upper edge of flange 53 ispreferably engaged by the lower end of the tubular member 20 in theassembled relation of the parts. At its upper end the cup shaped member52 is provided with a thin annular concentric upwardly projecting flange54 whose outer diameter is less than the diameter of the upper flange 53thereof and less than the inner diameter of the lower portion 24 of thetubular member 20. The inner diameter of the flange 54 is greater thanthe inner diameter of the cup member. This arrangement provides twoannular valve seats. The upper valve seat 55 is formed by the upper lipor margin of the flange 54 of part 52. The lower valve seat 56 isprovided by the shoulder at the upper inner edge of the wall of the cupmember 52.

In the constructions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a valve member 60 inthe nature of a metal ball is received within the lower enlarged bore ofthe portion 24 of the tubular member 20. The diameter of the ball orsphere 60 is slightly greater than the diameter of the upper valve seat55. The spherical valve 60 may be urged downwardly by a coil spring 61within the bore of tube 20 whose upper end bears against the aperturedupper end wall of the member 20 and whose lower end bears upon the valvemember 60. The pressure exerted by the spring will preferably be justsufficient to insure continuous sealing circumferential contact of thevalve element 60 with the cup shaped rubber member 52 at both of thevalve seats 55 and 56. The annular flange 54 of the cup shaped member 52will be thin to accommodate flexing and stretching thereof forcontinuous circumferential sealing engagement of the ball 60 at theupper valve seat 55 when continuous circumferential contact of the ballvalve 60 at the lower valve seat 56 occurs. At the same time thepressure exerted by the spring 61 is preferably small so that the forcerequired to unseat the valve member 60 may be maintained at a minimum.

Within the metal liner 50 at the lower portion of the bore of the member30 is positioned an elongated pin 65 preferably formed of metal and of adiameter slightly less than the smallest diameter of the bore of theliner tube 50 and smaller than the aperture in the bottom wall of therubber cup shaped member 52. Pin 65 is provided with an enlarged head 66at its upper end which head preferably includes a recessed upper centralsurface portion 67. The head 66 bears upon the upper surface of thebottom wall of the cup shaped member 52 and is of such size and shapethat its upper surface is adjacent to but slightly spaced from thelowermost portion of the valve sphere 60, as seen in FIG. 2, in thenormal position of the parts. The pin head 66 is of such dimension,however, that upon lateral pivoting of the pin, as illustrated in FIG.4, the head 66 will slightly unseat the valve 60 from the valve seats 55and 56 to accommodate the flow of liquid therepast metered according tothe angle of lateral pivot of the pin.

An effective seal of the discharge assembly within the clamp tube 6 isprovided by proportioning of the lengths of the parts 20 and 30 toprovide an annular groove between the upper end of the tubular member 30and the lower portion of the flange 21 of the member 20 which canreceive an O-ring or other annular seal 68 insuring against leakage ofliquid through the clamp tube 6 and around the parts 20 and 30.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3 wherein avalve member 70, of part-spherical configuration bearing upon the valveseats 55 and 56 as previously described, is provided with an elongatedupwardly projecting valve stem 71. The valve stem 71 has a clearancesliding fit within a tubular guide member 72 positioned above andsupported by a mounting tube 73 having a snug fit within the bore of thetube 20. A coil spring 74 presses downwardly on the valve stem 71 tourge the valve 70 into engagment with the valve seats. The lower end 75of the mounting tube 73 includes an outwardly flaring lower end portionto anchor the guide and maintain spacing of the guide from the valvemember for flow of water therearound.

When the watering system is assembled with a discharge device connectedat each clamp 5 and the water supply at line 3 connected to a watersupply source, the discharge outlet at each discharge device iseffectively sealed by the valve 60 or 70 thereof. Liquid flow into eachdischarge device is assured by virtue of the opening of valve elements 7by the members 23 incident to assembly of the discharge devices to tubes6 of the clamps 5. Leakage past a valve 60 or 70 is effectivelyprevented by: (a) the engagement of the ball valve 60 or 70 with part 54to cause outward deflection of the part 54 which forms the upper valveseat 55 until (b) the ball 60 or 70 is in effective engagement with thelower valve seat 56. The spring pressure applied by the coil spring 61is sufficient to insure the continuous peripheral seal of the ball valveat the valve seats 55 and 56. Similarly in the FIG. 3 embodiment,sufficient pressure is exerted by the spring 74 upon the stem 73 ofvalve 70 to cause the part-spherical valve head 70 to seat effectivelyat the upper and lower valve seats 55 and 56. Leakage of the parts atthe interfit of the discharge assembly in the clamp tube 6 iseffectively prevented by the O-ring seal 68.

With respect to the FIG. 3 embodiment, it will also be noted that theclearance fit of the valve stem 71 in the guide tube 73 is sufficient topermit flow around the stem and into the chamber in which the valve head70 is received.

The seals at the valve seats 55 and 56 and at the O-ring 68 effectivelyinsure that no leakage will occur at a discharge device which wouldendanger the poultry or animals in the compartment in which thedischarge device is located. Such leakage, if it did occur, would wetthe litter in the enclosure and might wet the fowl and thus endanger thehealth of the fowl or animal. This is particularly important inconnection with watering systems for cages or compartments receivingsmall chickens.

The effectiveness of the seal against leakage provided by the doublevalve seat arrangement 55, 56 and by the flexibility of the part 54, andthe spring pressure exerted against the valve element does notmaterially detract from the sensitivity of the device in operation todischarge water as required by the fowl or animal occupying the cage orcompartment within which the water discharge device is located. In thisconnection the pin 65 is of a length to project below the lower end ofthe housing part 30 and it is sufficiently loose within the housing toaccommodate movement at its lower end in any direction laterally and toaccommodate upward movement thereof. Lateral movement of the lower endof the pin 65 in any direction results in a fulcrum action of the head66 of the pin upon the base of the cup member 52 and elevation of theportion of the head 66 of the pin opposite the fulcrum sufficient toraise to a slight extent a portion of the valve element 60 or 70 awayfrom portions of the valve seats 55 and 56 and thus to permit the flowof a small quantity of liquid therepast and through the outlet opening34 around the pin 65. Small chicks and other small fowl and smallanimals quickly learn to shift the pin 65 laterally in this manner whenthey desire drinking water. As the fowl and animals grow, they alsolearn that endwise upward movement of a pin 65 will displace the valveand accommodate a limited flow of water for drinking purposes.

The formation of the housing parts 20 and 30 from a plastic materialavoids problems of rust thereof. The pin 65, valve elements 60 and 70,springs, and guides 73 may be formed of non-rusting metal, such asstainless steel. Thus clogging of the device due to the formation ofrust is effectively precluded. These characteristics of the device avoidthe requirement for frequent replacement of watering devices which hasbeen experienced commonly in prior constructions.

While the use of coil springs such as 61 and 74 may be preferred, suchsprings are not essential in all cases, particularly where the valvingelement, such as 60 or 70, is of sufficient weight to normally insure aneffective double seal thereof at the dual annular valve seats 55,56.

The construction illustrated in FIG. 3, which limits the flow of waterto the valve 70 to the extent of the clearance of the valve stem 71within the tubular guide 72, serves as a means for metering the rate offlow. A clearance at this point in the order of a difference of 0.007inches in the outer diameter of the valve stem and the inner diameter ofthe valve guide 72 is sufficient for normal usage of the system withpoultry cages. In this regard it has been found that a difference orclearance of 0.001 inches in a liquid flow passage of this constructioncan increase the rate of flow in the order of 25 percent. Effectivemetering of the rate of flow is important to insure against excessivedischarge of water. At the same time the manner of actuation of thedevice also can serve as a control of the rate of flow, that is, only apartial laterial tilting of the pin 65 will permit less flow thanmaximum permissible tilting thereof is illustrated in FIG. 4. Likewise,the rate of flow can be varied by the extent to which a direct upwardmovement of the pin 65 occurs.

An important consideration of the device is that the factors of waterpressure, spring pressure, and the weight of the valve element tend toprovide an effective continuous seal to the valve seats 55 and 56 andmay also provide a continuous circumferential seal between the pin head66 and the bottom wall of the cup shaped member 52 against which head 66seats, particularly in cases where the thickness of the head 66 is suchthat it substantially spans the clearance space between the bottom ofthe valve element and the bottom of the cup as illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3.

The quick disconnect provided by the inter-engaging hooks 41, 44effectively holds the device in assembled position. It also accommodatesrelease and removal of the distributing unit from the water line uponrotation of the member 30 relative to the clamp tube 6. This isimportant because it provides ready adaptability and versatility indifferent types of installations, as to accommodate interchange ofdischarge devices of different constructions, such as constructionswhich include a drinking cup as illustrated in my co-pending applicationSer. No. 034,243, filed Apr. 30, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,188 whena distributor of the type shown is removed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that changes in the construction may bemade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim is:
 1. In a watering device for fowl and small animals, avalve housing adapted to be connected to a water supply line and havingan inlet, an outlet and a valve chamber having a valve seat and a secondseat therein, a valve member normally bearing on said valve seat, avalve actuator having clearance in and projecting from said outlet, saidactuator having a head within said valve chamber and bearing on saidsecond seat, said actuator head normally being positioned adjacent andconfronting said valve member and having a concave surface with aleveraging edge confronting said valve member and positioned andinteracting therewith such that said leveraging edge first engages saidvalve member off center so as to shift said valve member off from saidvalve seat by leveraged actuation upon tilting movement of said actuatorhead relative to said second seat caused by slight actuator movement andthereby permit fluid flow from said supply line through said outlet, andsaid valve member having a convex surface confronting and engageable bysaid concave surface of said actuator head.
 2. The watering device ofclaim 1, wherein said valve member is a ball and said concave actuatorsurface substantially corresponds to the curvature of said ball.
 3. Awatering device for fowl and small animals, including a valve housingadapted to be connected to a fluid supply line, said valve housinghaving an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber connected between said inletand said outlet, said valve chamber having therein a valve seat and avalve member engageable with said valve seat to restrict fluid flowbetween said inlet and said outlet, and a valve actuator means having aportion thereof with clearance within and projecting from said outlet,said valve actuator means including an actuator head, adjacent to andconfronting said valve member, and having a recessed portion in itssurface confronting said valve member, said recessed portion including aleveraging edge about its circumference, and said valve member having acooperative projecting portion confronting and at least partiallyreceived within said recessed portion such that said valve actuatormeans interacts with said confronting surface of said valve memberthrough said leveraging edge which first engages said valve member offcenter to provide leveraged actuation to shift said valve member off ofengagement with said valve seat to permit fluid flow between said inletand said outlet in response to slight tilting movement of said actuatormeans with respect to said valve member.
 4. The watering deviceaccording to claim 3 wherein said recessed portion is a concave surface.5. The watering device according to claim 4 wherein said valve memberincludes a ball valve having a portion thereof receivable within saidconcave surface.
 6. A watering device for fowl and small animalscomprising:a housing having a valve chamber therein with a fluid inletto said valve chamber and a fluid outlet from said valve chamber; saidvalve chamber including therein first and second seat members spacedapart and at different levels in said valve chamber; a ball valve meansdisposed within said valve chamber for bearing on said first seat memberto seal against fluid flow through said valve chamber; a valve actuatormeans disposed partially within said valve chamber for actuating saidball valve means to permit said fluid flow; said valve actuator meansincluding an actuator head bearing on said second seat member and a pinportion extending through said outlet with clearance and projectingbeyond said outlet; said actuator head including an upper surface with arecessed portion adjacent and confronting said ball valve means; saidrecessed portion including an edge region cooperatively associated withsaid ball valve means such that, upon lateral movement of said valveactuator means in any direction relative to said housing, said edgeregion provides initial actuation engagement with said ball valve meansat a location on said ball valve means spaced apart from that portion ofsaid ball valve means closest to the level of said second seat member;and said initial actuation engagement causing said ball valve means toshift relative to said first seat member by leveraged actuation topermit said fluid flow.
 7. The watering device according to claim 6wherein said lateral movement of said valve actuator relative to saidhousing causes said actuator head to shift relative to said second seatmember so as to move said edge region toward said ball valve means. 8.The watering device according to claim 7 wherein said recessed portionincludes a concave surface and said edge region is disposed about theperiphery of said concave surface.
 9. The watering device according toclaim 8 wherein said second seat member includes a flattened surface andsaid actuator head includes a lower, flattened surface bearing on saidflattened surface of said second seat member.
 10. The watering deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein said outlet forms a substantiallyfrusto-conical bore having its largest diameter at the end furthest fromsaid second seat member and wherein said pin portion of said valveactuator means is substantially cylindrical.
 11. The watering deviceaccording to claim 10 wherein said actuator head bears on said secondseat member so as to also seal against fluid flow through said valvechamber when said valve actuator means is not subject to lateral orupward endwise movement with respect to said housing.
 12. The wateringdevice according to claim 10 wherein said frusto-conical bore is linedwith a wear resistant metallic material.
 13. The watering deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein said valve means is disposed so as to besufficiently responsive to provide said leveraged actuation from thelateral movement provided to said pin portion by small chicks.
 14. Thewatering device according to claim 9 wherein said valve chamber isformed from upper and lower telescopically interfitting parts havingcomplementary external hooks thereon which are adapted to be releasablyrotationally interlocked when said parts are in selected telescopedpositions.
 15. The watering device according to claim 14 wherein saidfirst and second seat members are integrally formed within a singlesealing element, said sealing element being mounted within said lowertelescopically interfitting part and engaging a lower portion of saidupper telescopically interfitting part to prevent upward movement ofsaid sealing element.
 16. The watering device according to claim 15wherein said sealing element includes a third seat member engageable bysaid ball valve means substantially simultaneously with said first seatmeans so as to also seal against fluid flow through said valve chamber.17. The watering device according to claim 14 wherein said valve chamberincludes an interior surface with portions dimensioned with respect tothe diameter of said ball valve means so as to provide a guide forvertical motion of said ball valve means.
 18. The watering deviceaccording to claim 15 wherein said concave surface has a radius ofcurvature less than the radius of said ball valve means such that atleast a portion of said concave surface is spaced apart from said ballvalve element when said ball valve means is not actuated to permit saidfluid flow.
 19. A watering device for fowl and small animalscomprising:a housing including a valve chamber therein and an inlet andan outlet connected to said valve chamber; upper and lower seat membersdisposed within said valve chamber; a ball valve means disposed withinsaid valve chamber for bearing on said upper seat member to seal againstfluid flow through said valve chamber; a valve actuator means having ahead portion and a pin portion; said pin portion extending through saidoutlet with clearance and projecting beyond said outlet; said headportion having a lower surface bearing on said lower seat member and anupper surface with a recessed region thereon; said recessed region beingdisposed adjacent and confronting said ball valve means; said recessedregion including an edge region cooperatively associated with said ballvalve means such that, upon lateral movement of said pin portion in anydirection relative to said housing, said edge region provides initialactuation engagement with said ball valve means; and said initialactuation engagement being provided at a location spaced apart from thelowermost portion of said ball valve means such that said lateralmovement causes said ball valve means to shift relative to said upperseat member by leveraged actuation to permit said fluid flow throughsaid valve chamber.
 20. The watering device according to claim 19wherein said lowermost portion of said ball valve means corresponds tothat portion of said ball valve means which is closest to the plane ofsaid lower seat member.
 21. The watering device according to claim 20wherein said recessed region includes a concave surface and wherein saidedge region is disposed at the periphery of said concave surface. 22.The watering device according to claim 21 wherein said ball valve means,said upper seat member and said valve actuating means are formed suchthat repeated leveraged actuation of said ball valve means results inrotation of said ball valve means with respect to said upper seatmember.
 23. A poultry watering device, comprising:an axially extendinghousing having a fluid inlet at one end of said housing, a fluid outletat another end of said housing, and a valve chamber connectedtherebetween; first and second seat members disposed in said valvechamber, said seat members being axially spaced apart with said secondseat member being located between said first seat member and saidoutlet; ball valve means disposed in said valve chamber for bearing onsaid first seat member to seal against fluid flow through said valvechamber from said inlet to said outlet; valve actuator means bearing onsaid second seat member for at least partially displacing said ballvalve means from said first seat member to permit said fluid flow; saidvalve actuator means including a head portion disposed within said valvechamber and a pin portion extending with clearance through said outletand projecting therebeyond; said head portion including a first surfaceadjacent and confronting said ball valve means and a flattened secondsurface bearing on said second seat member; said first surface includinga substantially concave recessed portion with a peripheral edge aboutsaid recessed portion; said valve actuator means being cooperativelyassociated with said ball valve means such that upon tilting movement ofsaid pin portion with respect to said housing said ball valve means isat least partially displaced from said first seat member by leveragedactuation; and said leveraged actuation resulting from fulcrum liftingof said flattened second surface from said second seat member causinginitial actuation displacement of said ball valve means throughengagement of said peripheral edge with said ball valve means at alocation on said ball valve means which is spaced apart from thatportion of said ball valve means extending furthest toward the end ofsaid housing having said outlet.
 24. The poultry watering deviceaccording to claim 23 wherein said second seat member includes aflattened surface adjacent to said flattened second surface of said headportion for supporting said head portion in sealing engagement toprevent said fluid flow when said pin portion is not contacted bypoultry.